Video highlights dangers of illegal tooth whitening

A video has been created to highlight the dangers of illegal tooth whitening products and services.

Produced by the Department for the Economy Trading Standards Service for Northern Ireland and the Environmental Health Departments of the 11 local councils and supported by the British Dental Association, the video highlights the risks some tooth whitening products and services by showing a young woman with swollen lips and bleeding and sore gums after having whitening performed by an unregistered person. It also advises people to protect their smile by speaking to their dentist before getting their teeth whitened.

It is a criminal offence for anyone other than a registered dentist, or dental hygienist, dental therapist or clinical dental technician acting to the prescription of a dentist, to offer or provide tooth whitening.

Richard Graham, the British Dental Association’s chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, commented: ‘There are strict laws on who can legally carry out tooth whitening and for good reason as this video shows.

‘If you put yourself in the hands of unqualified people with unknown chemicals you are gambling with your health.

‘As people have found to their cost, illegal and untrained operators can permanently damage teeth and gums and can’t provide help if something goes wrong. For safe, effective whitening visit your dentist.’

Watch the video online here.